TweedLove Bike Festival, the annual two week mountain bike and cycling celebration set in the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders, has confirmed a major sponsorship deal for both the festival and its new international enduro event for 2016.

TWEEDLOVE INTERNATIONAL ENDURO

Shimano, the world’s leading bike components brand, is announced as the headline sponsor of the TweedLove International Enduro (21 - 22 May), which takes over from previous years’ EWS event, as well as sponsoring the entire TweedLove Bike Festival 2016 (14 – 30 May).

In big news for athletes, the event will be awarding the biggest-ever cash prizes for a UK enduro race. Top riders at the Shimano TweedLove International race will pick up double the amount awarded at last year’s Enduro World Series race. The cash prizes are higher than those on offer at any other UK enduro event, where first prize for men and women will be £1250 (1700 euros).

TweedLove co-founder Neil Dalgleish, said: “We’ve loved having the world’s top riders come to TweedLove and we’re keen to invite them all back again. We have amazing trails and a fantastic atmosphere here, which we know from running the EWS races that the riders and fans really enjoy, so we’re excited to be going forward with our own International level race.

“There are established classic enduro events all over the world, which attract top teams and riders every year, and that’s what we want to build here. We hope the Shimano TweedLove International will grow to join the hot list of enduro events – it’s going to be a great ride for everyone and a very good day at the office for the winners picking up the cash.”

Organisers promise the same quality of course and organisation, with a big town centre expo and pro team riders, but now with bigger prizes and the backing of an industry giant.

TWEEDLOVE TRIPLE CROWN SERIES

Shimano TweedLove International is part of the TweedLove Triple Crown Enduro Series which also includes Endura Whyte Vallelujah (26 - 27 March) and Whyte Endura Scottish Open Champs (August 20 - 21).

Dalgleish goes on to say “We believe the Tweed Valley is the best enduro venue in the UK and we’re proud to host three of the UK’s biggest enduro races here in 2016. The Triple Crown is going to be a cracking mini-series of top quality shredding.”

Other big sponsorship news is that Madison Clothing is now onboard with TweedLove as the festival’s clothing sponsor – look out for some newly designed, bespoke Madison TweedLove race shirts which will be on sale at the event.

TweedLove started six years ago, when a group of friends got together to put on some low key races to showcase the amazing trails in the local area and has grown to biggest the biggest celebration of bike riding in the UK. The festival encompasses around 40 events over two weeks, including road and mtb races, family rides, kids races, film nights, photo exhibitions and of course the legendary TweedLove afterparty.

Shimano will be bringing professional servicing to TweedLove International and many other TweedLove events, making the whole experience even better for the riders at both MTB and road events – look out for the Shimano service cars and crew. Riders shouldn’t be surprised if they find their wheel change is a bit faster than normal if they puncture on this year’s Skinny Tweed sportive.

Neil Dalgleish aims to keep the friendly vibe and quality riding of TweedLove events. He says, “We are really proud to have Shimano on board, and with their help TweedLove can deliver even more of what it’s always been about – riding bikes and good times.”